Reduced border displays

Abstract

An LCD display, comprising an active display area, a backlight to illuminate the active display area, and an LCD display stack. The LCD display stack may comprise a substrate, a liquid crystal layer over the substrate, and liquid crystal cover layer. The substrate, the liquid crystal layer, and the liquid crystal cover layer define a liquid crystal cell. The LCD display stack has an edge seal extending between the substrate and the liquid cover layer, and extends over the active display area and beyond the active display area to bend around an edge of the backlight, such that the edge seal lies beyond the active display area.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An LCD display, comprising:
 an active display area; 
 a backlight to illuminate the active display area; 
 an LCD display stack comprising a substrate, a liquid crystal layer over the substrate, and a liquid crystal cover layer, wherein the substrate, the liquid crystal layer, and the liquid crystal cover layer define a liquid crystal cell, and wherein the LCD display stack has an edge seal extending between the substrate and the liquid cover layer; 
 wherein the LCD display stack extends over the active display area and beyond the active display area to bend around an edge of the backlight; and 
 wherein the edge seal lies beyond the active display area, and wherein the edge seal lies behind the backlight, and 
 wherein the LCD display stack is attached to a rear of the backlight by an adhesive layer, and 
 an integrated gate drive (IGD) circuitry, wherein the IGD circuitry is mounted on the substrate, and wherein the edge seal, adhesive layer, and IGD circuitry overlap. 
 
     
     
       2. An LCD display as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the LCD cell bends around an edge of the backlight. 
     
     
       3. An LCD display as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the IGD circuitry is displaced away from the active display area, and wherein electrical connections between the IGD circuitry and the active display area comprise a stack of electrically conducting layers including at least a first, compliant layer of first metal and a second protective layer of second metal, wherein a compliance of the first metal is greater than a compliance of the second metal, and wherein an oxidation resistance of the second metal is greater than an oxidation resistance of the first metal; and/or
 wherein the LCD display having electrical connections between the IGD circuitry and the active display area, each of the electrical connections being configured to fan out into multiple connections over the bend; and/or 
 further comprising one or more encapsulation layers to encapsulate the liquid crystal cell, wherein the one or more encapsulation layers extend over the active display area and beyond the active display area to bend around an edge of the backlight; and/or 
 wherein the LCD display stack is embedded in an encapsulation material where the LCD display stack bends around the edge of the backlight. 
 
     
     
       4. An LCD display as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the LCD display stack has a light-blocking layer which is substantially continuous over a region of the LCD display stack where the LCD display stack bends around an edge of the backlight, to inhibit light from the backlight leaking out; and
 optionally wherein the backlight lacks an adhesive joint to the display stack along the bend; and/or 
 further comprising a backlight tray to hold the backlight, wherein the LCD display stack bends around and abuts an edge of the backlight tray; and/or 
 further comprising a backlight tray to hold the backlight, wherein the LCD display stack bends around an edge of the backlight tray, and wherein the backlight tray is configured to absorb sufficient light from the backlight at the edge of the backlight tray that the display lacks a bright edge. 
 
     
     
       5. An LCD display as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a backlight tray to hold the backlight, wherein the LCD display stack bends around an edge of the backlight tray, and wherein the backlight tray is refractive index matched to the backlight and/or an interface between the backlight tray and the backlight incorporates a refractive index material; or
 further comprising a backlight tray to hold the backlight, wherein the LCD display stack bends around an edge of the backlight tray, wherein the backlight is an edge-lit backlight and includes a light guide to distribute light from an edge of the light guide over the active display area, and wherein the light guide and backlight tray are integrally formed. 
 
     
     
       6. An LCD display as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a radius of the bend decreases around the bend from the active display area towards a rear of the display, and wherein an edge of the backlight or, where present of a backlight tray, conforms to the bend; and/or
 wherein the LCD display is rectangular, wherein the LCD display stack bends around at least two adjacent lateral edges of the rectangle, and wherein the LCD display stack is notched at one or more corners defined by the at least two adjacent lateral edges of the rectangle. 
 
     
     
       7. A zero-bezel LCD display configured to provide a flat display area with all display edges borderless such that displayed information is able to extend over all of the display edges, the LCD display comprising:
 a flexible active matrix LCD display stack comprising a flexible substrate bearing active matrix circuitry comprising an array of TFTs (thin film transistors) for controlling pixels of the display, a liquid crystal layer over the substrate, and a liquid crystal cover layer, wherein the flexible substrate, the liquid crystal layer, and the liquid crystal cover layer define a liquid crystal cell, and wherein the flexible active matrix LCD display stack defines an active display area; and 
 a backlight behind the flexible active matrix LCD display stack to illuminate the active display area; and 
 wherein the flexible substrate of the flexible active matrix LCD display stack is notched at each corner of the flat display area and is folded around each of the edges of the flat display area such that the active display area extends around each of the edges of the flat display area of the zero-bezel LCD display, and 
 an integrated gate drive (IGD) circuitry, wherein the IGD circuitry is displaced away from the active display area, and wherein electrical connections between the IGD circuitry and the active display area comprise a stack of electrically conducting layers including at least a first, compliant layer of first metal and a second protective layer of second metal, wherein a compliance of the first metal is greater than a compliance of the second metal, and wherein an oxidation resistance of the second metal is greater than an oxidation resistance of the first metal. 
 
     
     
       8. The LCD display of  claim 7 , wherein the notches in the flexible substrate at the corners of the flat display area define a concave contour which cuts off each corner of the flat display area, and wherein an edge of the active display area at each corner defines a convex curve on the flat display area which is displaced away from the concave contour at a point of closest approach of the concave contour and convex curve; and/or
 wherein the display area is rectangular with four display edges. 
 
     
     
       9. The LCD display of  claim 7 , wherein the flexible active matrix LCD display stack has an edge seal extending between the substrate and the liquid cover layer, wherein the edge seal of the flexible active matrix LCD display stack lies beyond the active display area; and
 optionally wherein the LCD cell bends around an edge of the backlight, and wherein the edge seal lies behind the backlight; and
 optionally wherein the LCD display stack is attached to a rear of backlight by an adhesive layer, wherein the edge seal and adhesive layer overlap; and
 optionally further comprising integrated gate drive (IGD) circuitry, wherein the IGD circuitry is mounted on the flexible substrate, and wherein the edge seal, adhesive layer, and IGD circuitry overlap. 
 
 
 
     
     
       10. The LCD display of  claim 7 , wherein the flexible substrate extends laterally beyond the flexible active matrix LCD display stack to define one or more tabs at each of two edges of the flat display area; and wherein the IGD circuitry is mounted on each of the one or more tabs; and
 optionally wherein each of the one or more tabs is connected to a region of the flexible substrate in the active display area via a necked region in which a lateral width of the tab diminishes. 
 
     
     
       11. The LCD display of  claim 7 , the LCD display having electrical connections between the IGD circuitry and the active display area, each of the electrical connections being configured to fan out into multiple connections over the bend; and/or
 further comprising one or more encapsulation layers to encapsulate the liquid crystal cell, wherein the one or more encapsulation layers extend over the active display area and beyond the active display area to bend around an edge of the backlight; and/or 
 wherein the LCD display stack is embedded in an encapsulation material where the LCD display stack bends around the edge of the backlight. 
 
     
     
       12. The LCD display of  claim 7 , wherein the LCD display stack has a light-blocking layer which is substantially continuous over a region of the LCD display stack where the LCD display stack bends around an edge of the backlight, to inhibit light from the backlight leaking out; and
 optionally wherein the backlight lacks an adhesive joint to the display stack along the bend; and/or 
 further comprising a backlight tray to hold the backlight, wherein the LCD display stack bends around and abuts an edge of the backlight tray; and/or 
 further comprising a backlight tray to hold the backlight, wherein the LCD display stack bends around an edge of the backlight tray, and wherein the backlight tray is configured to absorb sufficient light from the backlight at the edge of the backlight tray that the display lacks a bright edge. 
 
     
     
       13. The LCD display of  claim 7 , further comprising a backlight tray to hold the backlight, wherein the LCD display stack bends around an edge of the backlight tray, and wherein the backlight tray is refractive index matched to the backlight and/or an interface between the backlight tray and the backlight incorporates a refractive index material; or
 further comprising a backlight tray to hold the backlight, wherein the LCD display stack bends around an edge of the backlight tray, wherein the backlight is an edge-lit backlight and includes a light guide to distribute light from an edge of the light guide over the active display area, and wherein the light guide and backlight tray are integrally formed; and/or 
 wherein a radius of the bend decreases around the bend from the active display area towards a rear of the display, and wherein an edge of the backlight or, where present of a backlight tray, conforms to the bend. 
 
     
     
       14. A flexible LCD display to provide a curved display area, the curved display area having display edges, the flexible LCD display comprising:
 a flexible active matrix LCD display stack comprising a flexible substrate bearing active matrix circuitry comprising an array of TFTs (thin film transistors) for controlling pixels of the display, a liquid crystal layer over the substrate, and a liquid crystal cover layer, wherein the flexible substrate, the liquid crystal layer, and the liquid crystal cover layer define a liquid crystal cell, wherein the flexible active matrix LCD display stack has an edge seal extending between the substrate and the liquid cover layer, and wherein the flexible active matrix LCD display stack defines an active display area; and 
 drive circuitry for driving the active matrix circuitry; 
 wherein the flexible substrate extends laterally beyond the flexible active matrix LCD display stack to define one or more tabs at each of two adjacent edges of the curved display area; 
 wherein the drive circuitry is mounted on each of the one or more tabs; and 
 wherein each of the one or more tabs is connected to a region of the flexible substrate in the active display area via a necked region in which a lateral width of the tab diminishes. 
 
     
     
       15. The LCD display of  claim 14 , wherein the flexible substrate defines a plurality of tabs at a first of the two adjacent edges, wherein the first of the edges is curved, and wherein the flexible active matrix LCD display stack is curved about an axis parallel to a second of the two adjacent edges; and
 optionally wherein, for at least the tabs at the first of the two adjacent edges, the necked region includes a compliant structure and has notches at corners where the necked region joins the flexible substrate. 
 
     
     
       16. The LCD display of  claim 14 , wherein the flexible active matrix LCD display stack is curved to define a cylindrical display; and
 optionally wherein the active display area is rectangular, wherein the flexible active matrix LCD display stack is curved such that two opposite edges of the active display area abut along a line parallel to the axis, and wherein the LCD display stack is notched at each end of one or both of the two opposite edges and folded around respectively one or both of the two opposite edges; and
 optionally wherein the LCD display stack is notched at each end of both the two opposite edges and folded around both of the two opposite edges such that the active display area abuts along the opposite edges to define a substantially continuous active display area extending around a circumference of the cylindrical display. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The LCD display of  claim 14 , wherein the drive circuitry comprises one or more integrated circuits; and further comprising a rigid interconnect structure mounted on each of the tabs bearing the one or more integrated circuits and having an edge connector for making an external electrical connection to the LCD display; and/or
 wherein electrical connections between the drive circuitry and the active matrix circuitry comprise, in the necked region, a stack of electrically conducting layers including at least a first, compliant layer of first metal and a second protective layer of second metal, wherein a compliance of the first metal is greater than a compliance of the second metal, and wherein an oxidation resistance of the second metal is greater than an oxidation resistance of the first metal; and/or 
 wherein one or more electrical connections between the drive circuitry and the active matrix circuitry are configured to fan out into multiple connections in the necked region. 
 
     
     
       18. The LCD display of  claim 14 , wherein the flexible active matrix LCD display stack is curved about an axis; further comprising a backlight behind the flexible active matrix LCD display stack to illuminate the active display area, wherein the backlight is curved to confirm to the curvature of the flexible active matrix LCD display stack; and
 optionally wherein the LCD cell bends around an edge of the backlight, and wherein the edge seal lies behind the backlight; and
 optionally wherein the LCD display stack is attached to a rear of backlight by an adhesive layer, wherein the edge seal and adhesive layer overlap; and/or 
 
 wherein the LCD display stack is embedded in an encapsulation material where the LCD display stack bends around the edge of the backlight. 
 
     
     
       19. The LCD display of  claim 14 , wherein the LCD display stack has a light-blocking layer which is substantially continuous over a region of the LCD display stack where the LCD display stack bends around an edge of the backlight, to inhibit light from the backlight leaking out; and/or
 wherein the edge seal of the flexible active matrix LCD display stack lies beyond the active display area; and/or 
 further comprising one or more encapsulation layers to encapsulate the liquid crystal cell, wherein the one or more encapsulation layers extend over the active display area and beyond the active display area to bend around an edge of the backlight.